Osogbo – The Master Bakers and Confectionery Association of Nigeria in Osun has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in prices of baking materials.

The association said that the high cost of baking materials was ‘killing’ the bakery business.

The Chairman of the association, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Onaopepo, made the call in an interview in Osogbo on Friday.

He said that many bakers were finding it difficult to make profits due to the high cost of the materials.

According to him, a bag of flour that costs N6, 600 two years ago, now goes for N11,400, while a bag of sugar now costs N12, 500 as against the former price of N7,000.

Onaopepo said that prices of salt, yeast and other baking materials had also hit the roof top.

He said that instability of foreign exchange, high cost of diesel and other baking materials were reasons given by flour millers for the hike in the prices of baking materials.

“Dollars exchange has come down as well as the price of the diesel, but the prices of baking materials still remain the same.

“We have appealed to flour millers and other people involved in the selling of baking materials to reduce their prices but they have not responded.

“And that is why we are pleading with Federal Government to intervene in this matter by talking to flour millers and baking material sellers to bring the prices down since dollar exchange and that of diesel have come down.

“Master bakers association is the largest employer of labour in the country and if any bakery should fold up, many people will lose their jobs.”

Onaopepo said that reduction in the prices of baking materials would have a significant effect on the price of bread. (NAN)